The unfancied club from Lombardy has quietly built one of the most compelling stories in Italian football. After a smart summer of recruitment and continued progress under coach Cesc Fàbregas, Como are now making waves in Serie A.

From shock arrival to rising manager

When Cesc Fàbregas first arrived at Como after leaving Monaco, few expected his story in Italy to unfold quite like this. The former Arsenal, Barcelona, and Chelsea midfielder initially joined the then–Serie B side as a player in 2022, a move that surprised many following his injury-hit final seasons in France.

Just a year later, Fàbregas hung up his boots and immediately transitioned into coaching, taking charge of Como’s U19 and B teams. His intelligence and leadership quickly impressed the club’s hierarchy, and by the start of the 2024/25 campaign — after Como’s promotion to Serie A and Fàbregas’ completion of his UEFA ‘A’ Licence — he was handed full control of the senior squad.

In his debut season as head coach, he guided the club to a 10th-place finish — their best top-flight result since 1987. Now, in 2025/26, Como have gone even further, producing a stunning start that has Serie A talking.

Historic win sends shockwaves through Serie A

The moment that truly announced Como’s arrival came in Week 7 of the season, when they stunned Juventus with a 2-0 victory at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia. Marc-Oliver Kempf and the highly rated Nico Paz scored the goals that sent shockwaves through the division.

Since then, the Lombardy side have continued to impress. They drew with Europa League winners Atalanta and claimed an outstanding 2-1 away win at Fiorentina thanks to Kempf and a last-minute strike from Jayden Osei Addai.

After eight matches, Como have lost only once — a narrow 1-0 defeat to Bologna — and currently sit sixth in Serie A, just five points behind leaders Napoli.

The Hartono brothers’ ambitious vision

Como’s rise is the result of a long-term vision that began in 2019, when Indonesian billionaire brothers Robert and Michael Hartono purchased the club. At the time, Como were struggling in Italy’s fourth tier, but the new owners saw both potential and prestige in the lakeside club — whose stadium, the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, overlooks the stunning Lake Como.

The investment has since transformed the club’s fortunes. The Hartono brothers have poured millions into the project, gradually improving the infrastructure, facilities, and squad.

Their ambition hasn’t gone unnoticed — celebrities such as Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, and Michael Fassbender have all been spotted attending matches, further raising the club’s profile.

This summer alone, the owners injected €125 million into the transfer budget, giving Fàbregas the means to bring in proven names like Álvaro Morata, Jesús Rodríguez, and Alex Valle.

Holding onto Nico Paz was crucial

Perhaps the club’s most important success this season, however, was keeping hold of 21-year-old Nico Paz. Despite Real Madrid having a buy-back option, the Spanish giants chose not to trigger it — allowing Como to retain their star midfielder.

Paz, who represents Argentina internationally, has been electric this campaign, contributing five goals and four assists so far. His creativity and intelligence have made him the heartbeat of Fàbregas’ system.

Other key signings have also made an impact. Veteran midfielder Sergi Roberto, though currently injured, has brought valuable leadership and experience from his Barcelona days, helping to steady a young and ambitious squad.

Could European football be next?

Looking ahead, Como’s upcoming fixtures offer a real opportunity to cement their position near the top. Four of their next five games come against teams in the lower half of the table — Hellas Verona, Torino, Sassuolo, and Cagliari — with only Napoli posing a major challenge.

If their current form holds, Fàbregas’ men could still be in the top six by early December — a remarkable achievement for a club that was playing in Serie B just two years ago.

And with another injection of funds expected in the January transfer window, few would bet against Como continuing their fairytale rise.

From humble beginnings to a genuine European contender, Cesc Fàbregas’ Como may just be the most romantic story in Serie A this season.